May 22nd, 11:30 PM.
Shiga Taka sat before the television, watching the eighth episode of Gurren Lagann.
The anticipated dramatic twist never came. Up to the seventh episode, the plot had been disappointingly conventional, even for Shiga Taka, who considered himself a devoted fan of Lin Zhiyan.
He considered dropping the series and waiting for Lin Zhiyan's next anime, but since episodes six, seven, and eight seemed to form a cohesive arc, he decided to finish the eighth episode before making a decision.
On the screen, the opening theme played, followed by a brief GG sequence and a tens-of-seconds recap, before the main episode began.
The eve of the decisive battle.
The Male Lead was woken by Yuko, and together they watched the volcanic eruption.
"It's called a volcano because that erupting mountain... 'There's molten lava deep inside the earth, and it erupts through the crust like this'," Yuko said, quoting Leeron.
"So..."
The Male Lead couldn't help but make a connection. "It burns and burns deep underground until it can't take it anymore and bursts out—just like Big Bro!"
Yuko seemed surprised. "Kamina said the same thing, something like 'That's me!' Is this some kind of bond between men?"
"No, that's..."
After a brief chat, Yuko returned to the camp to check on the rifle she had asked Leeron to maintain.
"It's rare for you to ask someone else to maintain your gun," Leeron remarked, adjusting something nearby.
"Today, we can't afford any mistakes," Yuko replied, her voice grave. "Gurren Lagann and the Gurren Brigade are on completely different levels."
"And their defensive capabilities too."
Leeron agreed, then asked, "What would happen if Kamina just charged ahead as usual?"
"Because he's not the type to stop just because we say so," Yuko answered without directly addressing the question. "From now on, I'll..."
Despite her words about Kamina being troublesome, Yuko soon found him.
"Yuko, leave the rear to me. I'll crush every enemy that comes from the front, so you handle the ones behind." Kamina spoke without turning around.
"Kamina," Yuko called out.
He turned, and Yuko leaned in and kissed him.
After the kiss, she blushed and said, "As expected, the rear is completely unguarded."
"You..."
Kamina was taken aback for a moment, then quickly turned and pulled Yuko into a deep kiss.
When they broke apart, he said, "Tenfold retaliation. I'll get you back tenfold before I return. Remember that."
With that, he threw on his cape and prepared to cause chaos.
Yuko replied, "Kamina, I'll be looking forward to it—your tenfold retaliation."
In front of the TV, Shiga Taka couldn't help but frown.
Why does this scene right before the battle feel so much like a death flag?
It shouldn't be, right?
After all, this animation was technically a dual-protagonist story. While it was standard operating procedure for Lin Zhiyan to kill off the male lead, this was only the eighth episode.
He wouldn't die here, would he?
With that thought, he continued watching intently.
On the screen, Kamina and Yuko were caught in a passionate kiss by the Male Lead.
Having grown fond of Yuko during their journey together, the Male Lead was naturally devastated by this sight.
The great battle began.
Kamina devised the battle plan, and the group set off.
Along the way, Kamina and Yuko chatted and laughed, their conversation carried over the open comms for everyone to hear.
But Kotang interjected, "Still so relaxed? That means everything's fine, right? We'll win this fight, Kamina?"
"Of course! Do you know who I am?!" Kamina declared confidently.
However, the Male Lead couldn't shake the image of Kamina and Yuko's kiss, and his inability to focus caused the power of Lagann to become unstable.
The group located Dai-Gan Mountain, the mobile fortress-type Face they had previously knocked down the cliff, and launched their attack. However, the enemy had anticipated their arrival and was already waiting for them.
A fierce battle erupted.
Initially, Kamina's battle plan went smoothly. It successfully drew Viral and the others' attention, allowing the Male Lead to charge out in Lagann and stab its drill into Dai-Gan Mountain, temporarily seizing control.
However, the plan to merge with Dai-Gan Mountain failed due to the Male Lead's unstable Mental Strength.
Upon learning of this, Kamina ordered the others to keep Viral and the others occupied while he charged into the fray. He raced to the top of Dai-Gan Mountain, reached Lagann, had the Male Lead open the cockpit, and delivered a punch.
Bang!
The Male Lead was sent reeling.
"Big Bro?" he asked, dazed.
"Are you awake now?"
Kamina replied, "When you're lost, I'll always be there to punch you back to your senses. So don't worry. I'm right here beside you. Believe in yourself, and believe in the you I believe in."
"Understood." The Male Lead finally regained his composure.
The fusion process resumed, gradually synchronizing.
Just as they were about to succeed, Kimmilov, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, intervened. Piloting a powerful Face and coordinating with Viral, he delivered a fatal blow to Kamina, who had just returned to the Gurren.
"Aaaah!!!"
Kamina, bloodied and writhing, let out a pained scream.
Everyone froze.
Even Simon, the Male Lead, was shaken by the sight, his mental state once again destabilizing.
"Big...!"
Simon shouted, and a burst of azure light erupted from him.
Then, Dai-Gan Mountain began to rampage.
The Beastmen inside were flung out, and the mountain itself started attacking wildly and uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, inside the Gurren:
Kamina, bleeding heavily and already fallen, heard through the team comms that Dai-Gan Mountain had gone berserk and was heading toward the volcano.
"No time to lie here feeling sorry for myself."
He forced himself to stand, and as Simon's will faltered, he took control of the Gurren and punched the Lagann on top of Dai-Gan Mountain.
Simon was thrown violently to the ground, but his spirits soared. "You're alive, Big Bro!"
"Simon, who do you think you are?"
Kamina, controlling the Gurren, pointed at the sky. "Your drill was meant to pierce heaven, earth, and the future! Why are you still dawdling here? We won! That colossal beast is yours now! There's nothing left to fear!"
"Big Bro..."
Tears welled in the Male Lead's eyes as he nodded firmly. "Yeah!"
Regaining his resolve, he activated Lagann, merged with Dai-Gan Mountain, and took complete control. He stopped, then urged his companions to quickly board.
But just as the Dai-Gurren Brigade erupted in cheers, Kimmilov, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, made his move.
His Face unleashed a barrage of powerful energy beams, sweeping across the Faces piloted by the Dai-Gurren Brigade members.
"You shameless humans! That was entrusted to me, Kimmilov, by the Spiral King! I'd rather destroy it here and now than let it fall into your hands!"
Furious, Kimmilov charged toward Dai-Gan Mountain with his subordinates.
Inside the Gurren, Kamina muttered, "That stubborn old beast refuses to admit defeat."
After a pause, Kamina said, "Simon, let's settle this in one go."
"Huh?" The Male Lead was a little confused.
"Combine! The final mission will be decided by Gurren Lagann!" Kamina declared with his signature swagger.
"Understood, Big Bro!" the Male Lead replied excitedly.
Then, he piloted Lagann down Dai-Gan Mountain and merged it with Gurren.
"Laugh at us for being reckless, brainless, or just plain ridiculous! This is the path of fighting supported by me, the great Kamina!"
"Smash through any obstacles with a single punch! If there's no road, we'll carve one with these hands!"
"Let the lava in our hearts burn into raging flames! Super Combination, Gurren Lagann!"
"Did you think we...?"
"Did you think we...?"
"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!"
Kamina and the Male Lead spoke their lines in succession before delivering the combined activation phrase together.
The scene was incredibly hype and passionate, and the combination sequence was visually stunning, making Shiga Taka watching on TV feel his blood boil.
The subsequent battle against Kimmilov was even more explosive, with every line, storyboard panel, and frame bursting with energy. Shiga Taka watched with utter satisfaction, feeling completely exhilarated.
But soon he was stunned.
After finally defeating Kimmilov, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, the camera cut to Kamina. The art style suddenly changed, draining all color into grayscale, even reducing him to a mere sketch, as if he had been completely burned out.
"Farewell, brothers." Kamina's last words echoed through the air.
In stark contrast stood the male lead, Simon, bathed in golden light.
He had been secretly celebrating the victory, but when he heard Kamina's words, he froze. "Big Bro?"
The screen abruptly went black.
Heavy rain poured down as the cockpit of the Gurren was opened. Kamina sat inside, lifeless.
The entire Dai-Gurren Brigade was plunged into profound grief.
Finally, Simon's inner monologue was heard: "That day, we lost something irreplaceable."
Only then did the title of Episode 8 appear: "Farewell, Brothers."
In front of the TV, Shiga Taka stared, dumbfounded.
He's dead?
He's really dead!
The earlier battle had been so fiery, so exhilarating. In the blink of an eye, Kamina was gone.
And this was only Episode 8!
What kind of insane plot twist is this?
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